The Disney Gallery is finally returning to Disneyland after being removed from its former location,which became the Disneyland Dream Suite.

With approximately the same amount of space as its former location, the Gallery will be divided into three main areas: two exhibit rooms and a gift shop and will incorporate the unique design elements of the Bank which will be incorporated in the story of a Bank being converted into an art gallery (how novel, we think!).

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Aug. 21, 2009 – As summer break draws to a close, Walt Disney World Cast Members are lending a helping hand to deserving Central Florida students and teachers by giving them the right supplies to confidently start the upcoming school year. Stocking up on boxes of crayons, rulers, pencils, folders and packs of notebook paper, Disney Cast Members hit an all-time high by donating a record 654,012 school supplies through the annual back-to-school supply drive at Walt Disney World Resort.

“School supplies may seem so simple but they are so very important,” says Eugene Campbell, vice president of Community Relations and Minority Business Development for Walt Disney World Resort. “I’m so proud that our kind and generous Cast Members recognize the need to give students all the tools necessary to achieve their very best during the school year. They’ve set a record for Disney’s contributions of school supplies to our community’s young students which is absolutely inspiring.”

This week, more than 200 Disney VoluntEARS sorted the supplies and distributed them to local students and teachers through partnerships with non-profits S.T.A.R.S. (Supplies to Assist Our Students) and A Gift For Teaching. S.T.A.R.S. received a total of 392,138 in Disney-donated supplies which filled nearly 6,000 backpacks given to students at 19 Orange County public elementary schools. A total of 261,874 Disney-donated back-to-school items were given to teachers through the Free Store at A Gift For Teaching’s Orlando facility.

Waking Sleeping Beauty, directed by Disney film producer Don Hahn and co-produced by Hahn and Peter Schneider, is an upcoming documentary that goes behind the scenes of the rebirth of Disney Animation with films such as The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.

Walt Disney Studios has provided us with these stills from the film which capture the essence of what went in to creating a series of films that defined an entire generation of new fans of Disney animation.

Click on any thumbnail to see the larger version or click on the PicLens link to start the slideshow.

ROME (Hollywood Reporter/Reuters) – “Star Wars” creator George Lucas will make his first trip to the Venice Film Festival to present the Golden Lion award for lifetime achievement to John Lasseter and the directors of Disney-Pixar, festival organizers said Thursday.

The presentation, which will take place September 6 in the Palazzo del Cinema’s Sala Grande, will be held in conjunction with screenings of new 3D version of “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2.” Lasseter directed both films. The evening also will include the premiere of a 10-minute clip from “The Princess and the Frog,” Disney’s return to hand-drawn animation, and the screening of a new sequence from the in-production project “Toy Story 3.”

Continuing our series into the galleries at the new Walt Disney Family Museum, we are pleased to present to you some of the artifacts that can be found in Gallery 6: TheLate ’30s – ’40s

This difficult period in Walt’s life included the deaths of his parents, a studio strike that threatened the company’s viability, and a period when the U.S. military used part of the studio as a base. The company released Dumbo and produced training films for the military, public service shorts, and morale- boosting films, and Walt embarked on a goodwill tour of South America to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Latin American countries. He later produced two Latin American-themed animated movies based on the trip.

Disney Channel will present the world premiere of Selena Gomez and The Scene’s first music video, “Falling Down,” from their upcoming debut album, “Kiss & Tell,” FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 following the premiere of “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie.” “Falling Down,” the band’s first single, will debut as a Radio Disney Planet Premiere FRIDAY, AUGUST 21.

The music video for the energetic pop-rock song was directed by Chris Dooley (Jewel “Stand,” The Scissor Sisters “Land of a Thousand Words”) and features Gomez and her four member all-guy band on a black circular stage rocking out in front of a large projection of patterned animated images towering in the background. “Falling Down” was written by Ted Bruner, Trey Vittetoe and Gina Shock.

The following information has recently become available on dining packages Epcot’s Candlelight Processional (CPP):

The CPP has been raised to 2 TS credits this year if you are on the Disney Dining Plan (and choose to use it).

In addition to preferred seating for the Candlelight Processional (that is, the CPP line being able to enter the America Gardens Theater prior to the standby line), the package also includes access to a reserved area for Illuminations viewing (specifics not yet known).

ANAHEIM, Calif. — August 20, 2009 — Disney’s spectacular product lines will come to life like never before in over 20,000 square feet of fun-filled interactive experiences and activities at the inaugural D23 Expo, where the entire world of Disney will come together under one roof at the Anaheim Convention Center in California from Sept. 10-13. Disney Consumer Products (DCP) will treat fans to a sneak peek of the latest and most innovative Disney products as well as the chance to meet and hear from the artists and designers that bring them to life.

D23 Expo attendees will have the premier opportunity to visit the first-ever Disney Dream Home, stroll through 30 years of history of Disney-inspired Hallmark keepsake ornaments, witness Disney Fine Art created right before their eyes, and immerse in the magic of a Disney Fairy Tale Wedding where guests will get a first look at the yet-to-be-unveiled Princess Tiana wedding gown inspired by The Princess and the Frog. They will go behind the scenes of Disney products through a series of events and presentations including fashion shows, art galleries, appearances by best-selling authors such as Ridley Pearson and artists such as Thomas Kinkade, and seminars describing the creative process by Disney toys and electronics designers.Plus, they will be part of a special introduction to the history and future of Disney Store by Disney Stores Worldwide president, Jim Fielding, and much more.

There will be fun for the whole family at the Disney Creativity Center hosted by Crayola, the Disney Princess Story time and Royal Manners event, the Baby Einstein World of Discovery Center, and a magnificent live LEGO building event of Disney characters with the help of Master Builders.

It’s hard to follow up the details on the Walt Disney Studios D23 pavilion and screening schedule with anything, so not much else new to report within the 24 hours, so it’s time to turn the clock and put the spotlight on a few things you may have missed.

– But first, some real news: The D23 Live Expo Auction Catalog has been updated. This revision details the Disneyland experiences, a few of which are definitely once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Some photos have also been added including several of the Hatbox Ghost. You can get the updated PDF directly here. Remember that in addition to D23 Expo admission, you must purchase a separate auctioneer’s package in order to bid on items.